| abstract |
A salt bridge reference electrode, immersible in an electrolyte, contains a metal electrode contacting water saturated salt crystals and is configured so both evaporative loss of contained water and diffusion loss of contained salt crystals are minimal. An electrolytically conductive plug, having metallic salt crystals in suspension, within the cell, maintains electrolytic continuity between the water-saturated salt crystals and the surrounding electrolyte while minimizing loss of salt crystals from the saturated water into the surrounding electrolyte by osmosis. |